Parents, I don't know where else to ask, is this possible?

Question

So, I have a few really chirpy questions to ask, if you have a soft stomach, I don't advise reading these. I wasn't sure where else to ask them. So I figured considering it's about a child, here is as good a place as any.

I had the TV on earlier, but I wasn't paying *much* attention, so I don't know what the programme was or what channel I was on either. So, I don't know whether it was a real story, something that could happen or fictional.

So these are more "could this happen" questions.

There was a women and she was struggling to get pregnant, eventually she did. 6 months into her pregnancy she was attacked by another women (I think maybe this other women liked the pregnant lady's husband). Anyway, the lady attacked the pregnant woman and knocked her unconscious.

The pregnant women gave birth while unconscious (can this happen?)

The baby was born, only 6 months along, it was alive, it took it's first breath, it cried, it looked like a very small but perfectly formed baby, eyelashes and everything. (Can this happen?)

The jealous women killed the baby. The baby was still attached the placenta. Would this have any negative physical health effects on the mother?

The mother didn't deliver the afterbirth until about 8 hours later when she was found and in hospital. (What kind of effect could this have on the body. After watching "Call the Midwife" I was under the impression that the longer the afterbirth took to be delivered the higher the mother was at the risk for *something*.)


And, final question. The lady who beat up the pregnant lady and killed the baby, would she face murder charges for killing the baby, or would she face manslaughter?

AND could she be charged with GBH with intent to kill, for beating the mother up so badly and then leaving her for dead?

cjsmummy · Accepted Answer

1.Yes,it is possible to give birth while unconscious - a woman gave birth while in a coma suffering with swine flu in the UK.She never came round unfortunately and she died without ever seeing her daughter

2.Yes,a baby is fully formed at 13 weeks gestation (as in,most things are in place),just everything is immature - it's a long process,but the lungs are the last to mature.6 months pregnant (minimum of 24 weeks) and the baby is classed as viable

3.As far as I'm aware,no physical effects from the severing of the cord,that's supposed to happen

4.The women in my family seem to have a history of retaining their placenta - my mum was taken back to hospital for a scrap after she had me and my twin brother because a small fragment was left behind and she had an emergency scrape minutes after my sister was born because it wasn't coming out.It is a big deal when the placenta isn't delivered.Placenta retention leads to heavy bleeding and an increased risk of infection

5.Could be either - once a child has been born and taken a breathe,they are classed as a human being,their human rights are crystallised.As for the mother,GBH with intent would be best case,more likely attempted manslaughter/murder.Of course,this would all depend on her actually being charged - her lawyer could always argue the woman was mentally defective and she would be unlikely to face charges.Law is a rather complicated area so who knows what could happen?

Jennifer P - So,the baby hadn't been born then?I read it as the baby had been born therefore the child is alive (however briefly)

Orange · Answer

**Shocked** This was on 'Call the midwife'?! I'm so glad I don't watch it. It would have given me nightmares for years to come. In fact your question may well have done that.

1 - You can give birth without being conscious. This is much easier if not full term. The body does lots of the work naturally.

2 - At 24 weeks (6 months) a baby would look like a very tiny fully formed baby. It may try to take it's first breath and cry but would go into respiratory distress and without medical help would quickly die. Even with medical help the odds of survival at 24 weeks gestation are very slim.

3 - Killing the baby while still attached to the mother would not have any ill effects on the mother.

4 - The risk of infection and hemorrhage increases the longer the 'afterbirth' is left before delivery but 8 hours is not really that long and it is very possible to remain in that state for 8 hours and still be ok.

5 - Whether she would face murder or manslaughter charges would depend on whether she had planned in advance to kill the baby. It would most likely be murder.

6 - She would face GBH charges and maybe even attempted murder but it depends on the context.

jennifer p · Answer

the mother would have to push the baby out. yes the baby would be fully formed. slowly placenta delivery leaves the mother at risk of bleeding to death (still pumps blood until its not attched to womb wall) 

she would face attempted murder of the mother and child destruction (as the UK law does not count a baby as living until it is born)

elaeblue · Answer

She could be charged with one count of murder and one of attempted murder....as well as assault. 

Yes not delivering the placenta right away can be a problem.

Max · Answer

she has to push, yes, the baby can be born with eyelashes and the woman would be facing murder.
hope it answered some of your questions.

quo vadis · Answer

yes, yes,no,true,depends,yes.

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Parents, I don't know where else to ask, is this possible?

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